Hey everyone, hope all are well out there and progressing well through their journeys, remembering to enjoy the upsides!

I had my 6 week post-op appointment today, and was really determined to make my consultant laugh. I failed in this endeavour, however he did crack a smile….I think my happiness at the outcome of the meeting must have been just a teeny bit infectious!!

So…had the boot set to 10deg dorsiflexed - not a problem, could get there on my own anyway. He had a feel of the tendon and said that he feels I am healing extremely well. I have been managing on one crutch around the house for the last week or so, and for the last couple of days, even without the crutch. He said this is fine, just to keep going with that, and listen to my body.

Now my boot is due to come off on 1st January, which is a public holiday. Rather than make me wait, doc said he was so happy with me that he would entrust me to remove the boot for the final time that day, and get myself into a pair of shoes. I could have hugged the man!!! (particularly as he is quite handsome lol).

The worry now is, will I be able to wait?? It’s not like anyone is going to know…..except you guys! I feel sure that you will all keep me in line, though, which is a good thing….I can be prone to a little overexcitement! No, I will be good…and I am going to step out of bed on new years day a new woman, with a nice shiny new pair of trainers!!!!!! Bring on 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I have clearance now to do anything low impact - swimming, cycling, running in water, elliptical etc etc. At 8 weeks post op I can begin double calf raises, and at 12 weeks I can do whatever I want - listening to my body at all times of course.

My physio is amaaaaazing. So very good at his job. He has been working lots on my right (good) side as I have mentioned in previous posts, I have had a lot of pain and he thinks it is pretty high risk. We have worked out that this all came about (most likely) from childbirth 5 years ago, when I suffered a separation of the symphisis pubis on one side, and my pelvis was twisted. Looks like the rehab I had for that was not particularly successful…it eradicated the pelvic pain but did not restore proper function, so now my lower legs are compensating. Physio estimates I am loading about 3 times my actual body weight through my AT’s. Best I get that sorted out now!!! To that end he is doing lots and lots of really painful calf massage and has me on a regime of core strength exercises combined with single calf raises. Happy to report, no pain for the last two days….excellent!

Today, we start rehabbing the ‘bad’ leg more seriously. He does dry acupuncture needling to break up the scar tissue which is apparently very effective, not sure at this stage what else he has in store for me. Whatever it is I am sure it will hurt, but I am sure I will sincerely thank him for it regardless!

I wholeheartedly wish each and every one of you the happiest of holidays, and hope that you are enjoying your milestones and rolling with the punches. This site is so important for us to connect with, support, encourage and humour one another, and yes I too have a pen pal from across the seas which is an entirely unexpected bonus, and a very welcome one! It’s all about getting the most out of the experience I guess!

I will post again in a couple of weeks, in two shoes and ready to take on new challenges.

warmest wishes to you all